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Mission: To use surf lifesaving competition to motivate lifeguards to develop, maintain and improve skills necessary to effect aquatic rescues and to generate funds and provide volunteers to support aquatic safety and drowning prevention programs
Team San Diego's Jennifer Davies enters the surf during Regional competition, 2002 The San Diego Surf Lifesaving Association was established in 1998 to maintain high standards of professional surf lifesaving and to enhance public aquatic safety. Since inception the SDSLA has fielded competitors in surf lifesaving's regional, national and world competitions. The Team consists of present and former San Diego lifeguards who are dedicated to improving their surf lifesaving skills. Members train long hours and finance their expenses through fund-raising efforts. |
The members of SDSLA are not all members of the competitive team. Team San Diego consists of approximately thirty individuals ranging in age from twenty-three to seventy. Yes, seventy.
Team Membership Team membership is open to any SDSLA member, and strongly encouraged. The Team regularly competes against teams with as many as 100 members. These larger teams have the advantage of having many contestants to field over the course of an event, rather than fielding the same contestants repeatedly. Team San Diego has risen to the challenge, however, and repeatedly brings home the "gold". At the International Lifesaving Federation's "Rescue 2002" world lifesaving competition in Daytona Beach, Florida, Team San Diego competitors brought home 16 gold, 19 silver, and 14 bronze medals. Nationally, the US Lifesaving Association holds annual competitions. Team San Diego has historically finished third behind Los Angeles County and Monmouth, New Jersey. That all changed in 2002 when they finished second out of a field of 44 teams. Upcoming competitions will be the USLA competition in Monmouth, New Jersey in August of 2003 and world competitions in Italy in 2004. The team is continually raising funds to support shipping equipment across country and also to host local competitions. |
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Sponsorship Opportunities Available 2003-04 Annual Budget Requirement $115,000 Sponsorship Packages Available Please contact us for further information
Team San Diego, USLA National Competiton, Miami Beach, 2001 SUPPORT TEAM SAN DIEGO! |
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SDSLA members are involved in a variety of community activities focused on youth. Not only do SDSLA members contribute funding for youth swimming and safety programs, but members volunteer their time in these programs to teach both pool and surf swimming and safety. The following are examples of the many programs in which SDSLA members are involved: Learn-to-Swim-for-Free Program (inner- city); offering swimming as Physical Education in city schools; year-round USA Swimming Programs; Bridge to the Beach Program (pool swimmers to surf); Urban High School Swim Teams (started swim teams at local schools); Operation: Water-proof San Diego (water safety for elementary school youth); Junior Lifeguard Program. SDSLA members also attend community events such as school career fairs and health and safety fairs.
Brian Chadwell safely delivers equipment to Miami Beach, 2001 |
(Below are two of the Team's Super Vets)
Team San Diego Super Vets, Jim Robb and Pete Heinig, USLA competitions, Pacific Beach, 2002 The SDSLA annually raises funds to support the Team and its youth and lifesaving projects. By joining the SDSLA you support both. Corporate sponsors are encouraged not only to become members, but to contribute to the costs of funding the Team. Traditionally, the SDSLA presents the "Surf's Up Luau" as the annual fund-raising event. Monies raised have supported the cost of shipping equipment to events, while travel expenses and lodging have been paid for by the individual team member. With the help of sponsors SDSLA could finance the Team and, therefore, attract more Team members, and continue to contribute to the youth and lifesaving programs.
Please send e-mail to: Marshallparks@aol.com Or write: SDSLA, PO Box 880092, San Diego, CA 92168 Please make checks payable to SDSLA |
